When a 7-year-old gets shot in our community, that's not a statistic. That's somebody's child. That's a failure we all have to own — and a fight we all have to be in. I didn't serve 36 years in uniform to come home and watch our neighborhoods live in fear.

Let's be honest about where we are. Macon-Bibb County has one of the highest violent crime rates in the state of Georgia. In 2022, our community recorded over 70 homicides — a devastating number that put us in national headlines for the wrong reasons. Property crime remains stubbornly high, with residents facing a 1-in-40 chance of becoming a victim. Car thefts, burglaries, and armed robberies continue to shake the sense of security that every family in District 5 deserves.

But here's what's also true: Macon-Bibb has made real progress. Since 2022, homicides have dropped by 60%, falling from over 70 to 29 in 2025. Youth homicides have plummeted by 87%. The county's Macon Violence Prevention program, which has invested more than $21 million in community intervention, technology, and prevention programs, has been recognized statewide and nationally for its results. That progress is real, and it matters.

The problem is that progress isn't enough when our neighborhoods are still under siege. Just this past weekend, Macon saw eight separate shootings in less than 48 hours — four people killed, nine wounded, including a 7-year-old boy. A triple homicide on Moseley Avenue. A family destroyed when an eviction notice turned fatal on Ridgeview Circle. These aren't things that happen somewhere else. They happen here. They happen to us.

Stephanie believes that reducing crime requires honesty about both the progress and the problems — and a commissioner who will fight on every front, not just the ones that make for easy talking points.

Continue What's Working

The Macon Violence Prevention program is saving lives. Since 2021, the program has awarded nearly $3 million to more than 50 local organizations doing the on-the-ground work of mentoring young people, providing mental health services, and interrupting cycles of violence before they turn deadly. Programs like 100 Black Men of Macon, Next Level Community Development Center, and the Girls Dig Deeper Initiative are reaching hundreds of young people who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Stephanie will fight to sustain and expand this funding because cutting what's working would be irresponsible.

Technology is giving law enforcement better tools. The county has invested $4.5 million in ShotSpotter gunfire detection, 150 Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, and approximately 500 Verkada surveillance cameras in downtown and public housing areas. These systems are helping the sheriff's office recover roughly 20 stolen vehicles per month and intercept more than 100 wanted persons per month. ShotSpotter data has been used to solve homicide cases by linking shell casings across incidents. Stephanie supports the responsible use of these technologies with proper oversight and privacy protections.

The DA's R.I.S.E. program is growing. The District Attorney's Restoring Inspiration by Success in Education program saw its graduate count increase from 26 to 122, steering young people away from the criminal justice system and toward productive futures. Programs like this reduce recidivism and break cycles of violence. Stephanie supports expanding these intervention pathways.

Address What Isn't

We need more officers on the street. Since consolidation in 2014, Bibb County has gone from over 200 patrol officers to roughly 83 — less than half. That means longer 911 response times, less traffic enforcement, and fewer deputies available when neighborhoods need them most. The sheriff's office is approximately 80 deputies short of its budgeted strength. Stephanie will push for competitive compensation packages that attract and retain experienced law enforcement professionals, not just widen the age range of applicants.

We need to address the root causes. Crime doesn't happen in a vacuum. Poverty, unemployment, lack of youth programming, untreated mental illness, housing instability — these are the conditions that breed violence. Stephanie will advocate for job training programs, expanded afterschool and summer programs, and accessible mental health services that reach District 5 residents where they are. Opportunity is one of the most powerful crime prevention tools we have.

We need more streetlights and safer infrastructure. Dark streets and neglected public spaces invite criminal activity. Something as straightforward as functioning streetlights in every District 5 neighborhood can make a measurable difference in both the reality and the perception of safety. Stephanie will push for infrastructure investments that make our streets safer to walk, drive, and live on.

We need dedicated mental health crisis response. Not every 911 call requires a deputy with a badge and a gun. When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, they need a trained professional who can de-escalate the situation and connect them with services — not an armed response that can turn a health emergency into a tragedy. Stephanie supports dedicated mental health crisis teams that work alongside law enforcement to respond to the right calls with the right people.

We need to hold property owners accountable. Apartment complexes with repeated violent incidents, like the Autumn Trace Apartments — where multiple shootings have occurred in less than a year — cannot be allowed to operate as crime magnets. Stephanie supports aggressive enforcement of code and safety standards for landlords and property managers, and will advocate for the county to use every tool available to hold negligent property owners accountable for the safety of their tenants and surrounding neighborhoods.

A Commissioner Who Shows Up

Reducing crime in District 5 isn't just about policy positions. It's about having a commissioner who is present, engaged, and willing to do the hard work of advocating for our neighborhoods at the county level. That means fighting for District 5's fair share of public safety resources. That means sitting down with the sheriff, the DA, community organizations, and residents to coordinate efforts. That means showing up after a shooting — not to make a speech, but to listen, and to follow through.

Stephanie spent 36 years serving this country in uniform. She knows that protecting a community takes discipline, investment, coordination, and a refusal to accept the unacceptable. She's not running to play politics with public safety. She's running to work — every single day — to make District 5 a place where families feel safe in their homes, children can play outside, and no parent has to wonder if their kid is going to make it home.